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From page 33... ... A-1 A P P E N D I X A Literature Review Completed August 1, 2017 Introduction and Executive Summary About This Project The goal of this research project was to develop a reference guide that identifies and describes how metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) can effectively analyze and address equity and environmental justice in long-range planning and programming processes, meeting both the legal requirements of Title VI and the needs of underserved or underrepresented communities successfully and efficiently within an MPO's responsibilities and capacity. Read the entire page →
From page 34... ... A-2 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes A thorough regional equity analysis can take a holistic approach to equity that may be missing from other stakeholders' assessments. For example, a transit agency may conclude that new transit service benefits a predominantly African-American neighborhood, and a state department of transportation (DOT) Read the entire page →
From page 35... ... Literature Review A-3 Summary of Findings Table A-1 summarizes the key components of each step in equity analysis and the state of the practice among the MPOs reviewed. Table A-1. Read the entire page →
From page 36... ... A-4 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes indicators are used but also which communities are the focus of the equity analysis, how these communities' needs are identified and addressed, and how the results of analyses inform decision making. MPOs that select best-practice indicators without considering these other steps may not provide adequate information to support a determination of disparate impact and may run increased risk of complaints or lawsuits. Read the entire page →
From page 37... ... Literature Review A-5 Candidates for Follow-up Interviews As a follow-up to the literature review task, the project team planned to interview up to 15 transportation agencies to better understand their approach to regional equity analysis and the opportunities and challenges they see to improving their analyses. We proposed to start by interviewing contacts from 10 MPOs that represented metropolitan areas of varying sizes across Table A-3. Read the entire page →
From page 38... ... A-6 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes alternate interviewees identified during our research. The final section of this report contains additional information on alternates, as well as the interview questionnaire. Read the entire page →
From page 39... ... Literature Review A-7 Table A-4. List of MPOs reviewed. Read the entire page →
From page 40... ... A-8 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes indicators used to assess impacts, the tools and data used to assess these indicators, and how the indicator results were presented. Other non-MTP/TIP resources from MPOs are discussed in the next section. Read the entire page →
From page 41... ... Literature Review A-9 operate transit, more detailed analysis of planned transit routes and data in a regional equity analysis can help support public transportation providers in their region. Similar consideration might be given to helping transit agencies or local transportation agencies prepare for the EJ component of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Read the entire page →
From page 42... ... A-10 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes Determine whether an EJ population is present. This determination should not be solely based on population size because there can be a disproportionate impact even when the COC is small in population. Read the entire page →
From page 43... ... Literature Review A-11 perspective on equity issues, but it can also make an analysis much more complex to conduct and interpret. MPOs' approach to defining COCs based on the concentration of different population groups also affects the inclusiveness and complexity of the analysis, as we discuss below. Read the entire page →
From page 44... ... A-12 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes Aggregating or Weighting Population Groups Setting and applying thresholds allows MPOs to identify all areas with significant concentrations of each population group that they are considering. Some stop after that step and use those areas as COCs in the further steps of their equity analysis. Read the entire page →
From page 45... ... Literature Review A-13 Table A-7. Examples of MPOs using weighting or indexing to define COCs. Read the entire page →
From page 46... ... A-14 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes Source: ARC (2018) Figure A-4. Read the entire page →
From page 47... ... Literature Review A-15 in assessing disparate impacts and can also help identify strategies to improve outcomes for COCs. This section discusses both approaches to public engagement. Read the entire page →
From page 48... ... A-16 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes In California, San Francisco's MTC created the Regional Equity Working Group (REWG) , which is made up of members of the Regional Advisory Working Group (representatives of local and regional governing agencies) Read the entire page →
From page 49... ... Literature Review A-17 Accessibility COCs often do not have equal access to destinations or travel times as non-COCs. Access to jobs is the most common measure of accessibility, but some resources take a deeper look at modes or jobs that might be a better fit for COC members. Read the entire page →
From page 50... ... A-18 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes Affordability Some resources attempt to compare the full costs of living in a given location. Most prominent is the Housing and Transportation Affordability Index (H+T Index) Read the entire page →
From page 51... ... Literature Review A-19 Indicators for Measuring Impacts Relevant Regulations and Guidance MPOs need to evaluate negative and positive effects of their programs and plans and "the totality of significant individual or cumulative human health or environmental effects" (E.O. Read the entire page →
From page 52... ... A-20 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes State of the Practice In the TIPs and MTPs we reviewed, we found most MPOs measured their outputs, such as the distribution of projects or costs. Read the entire page →
From page 53... ... Literature Review A-21 Some best-practice examples include: The MTC has a wide variety of measures, but two indicators that are particularly relevant to equity are housing and transportation affordability and displacement potential (MTC 2013) ; The MARC measures the percentage of jobs within one-half mile of transit, the percentage of jobs reachable by transit within 90 minutes, and the presence of transit near COC areas (MARC 2015a) Read the entire page →
From page 54... ... A-22 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes Table A-9. MPO methods for comparing impacts. Read the entire page →
From page 55... ... Literature Review A-23 The PSRC's TIP demonstrates an option analyzing the distribution of different project types across COCs containing significant concentrations of different population groups (Figure A-5) Read the entire page →
From page 56... ... A-24 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes Equity Performance Measure Target Population 2010 2040 (Baseline Forecast) Read the entire page →
From page 57... ... Literature Review A-25 Because MPOs can end up in court for failure to comply with Title VI, case law also provides some basis for defining disparate impacts. The current standard, as set by the United States Supreme Court in Alexander v. Read the entire page →
From page 58... ... A-26 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes In its TIP analysis, the MTC said its understanding of regulatory requirements was that a disparate impact must be statistically significant. The MTC's results did not show disparate impacts, but the agency did not reveal how it analyzed statistical significance in the TIP (MTC 2016) Read the entire page →
From page 59... ... Literature Review A-27 Summary of Findings Most MPOs analyze output measures in their equity analyses; some also analyze outcomes. The MPOs reviewed did not identify a disparate impact. Read the entire page →
From page 60... ... A-28 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes If there is not a way to reduce the effects to not be disproportionate, the FHWA will not approve the activity unless a substantial need exists for the activity, based on the general public's interest and the alternatives would either have impacts as severe or increase costs extraordinarily (FHWA Environmental Justice Reference Guide) Read the entire page →
From page 61... ... Literature Review A-29 In our review of MPO equity analyses, we found that several MPOs look at the distribution of funding and/or break it down by types of projects and into per capita spending. If the analysis of performance measure outcomes reveals that the COCs are having worse outcomes on a measure (e.g., safety) Read the entire page →
From page 62... ... A-30 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes agency who would be able to address the issue. The MTC works with the county agencies that manage congestion to help ensure adequate public involvement during their project prioritization process. Read the entire page →
From page 63... ... Literature Review A-31 process (PolicyLink 2013) Read the entire page →
From page 64... ... A-32 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes practice examples of equity analysis during the literature review. Table A-11 lists the MPOs; the states in which they are located; the populations of the regions they serve; the proposed agency contacts, by title (typically the person in charge of equity analysis or the planning manager, if an equity-specific contact was not available) Read the entire page →
From page 65... ... Literature Review A-33 The research team planned to determine how best to fill the remaining five interview slots after conducting the initial 10 interviews. We planned to ask each of the interviewees listed in Table A-11 about potential additional contacts, either from other MPOs or among stakeholders within their regions that are pursuing best practices in or have interesting perspectives about equity analysis. Read the entire page →
From page 66... ... A-34 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes • Have you revised a plan or program before adoption based on a potential impact? What happened during that process? Read the entire page →
From page 67... ... Table A-12. Agencies studied. Read the entire page →
From page 68... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Define COCs Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented Charlotte CountyPunta Gorda MPO (CCPGMPO) Read the entire page →
From page 69... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Connections 2040 Plan for Greater Philadelphia (2014) Read the entire page →
From page 70... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Define COCs Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGCOG) Connected 2045 LongRange Transportation Plan (2015a) Read the entire page →
From page 71... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Define COCs Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented Memphis Urban Area MPO 2017–2020 TIP (2016b) 1,077,697 TIP Minority Low-income LEP Distribution of projects ACS GIS Map of projects overlaid on COCs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) Read the entire page →
From page 72... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Define COCs Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) – covering San Francisco Bay Area Play Bay Area 2035 (2013) Read the entire page →
From page 73... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Define COCs Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Read the entire page →
From page 74... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Define COCs Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented Nashville Area MPO Middle Tennessee Connected 2016–2040 RTP (2016) 1,494,356 MTP Minority Carless households Poverty Disability Female heads of household Elderly LEP Distribution of projects U.S. Read the entire page →
From page 75... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Define COCs Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Transportation Plan 2040 (2014) Read the entire page →
From page 76... ... Agency and Plan Name Regional Population MTP/ TIP Demographic Factors Used to Define COCs Indicators Used to Assess Impacts Tools and Data Used How Indicators Are Presented Valdosta-Lowndes MPO 2040 Transportation Vision Plan (2014) 79,176 MTP None were Valdosta-Lowndes MPO 2015–2018 TIP (2014) Read the entire page →
From page 77... ... Literature Review A-45 Resources Reviewed Research and General Resources 1000 Friends of Oregon, Ecotrust, and Futurewise. Read the entire page →
From page 78... ... A-46 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (Executive Order 12898) Read the entire page →
From page 79... ... Literature Review A-47 Morris, A., and L Fragala. Read the entire page →
From page 80... ... A-48 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes Tomer, A., et al., 2011. Missed opportunity: Transit and Jobs in Metropolitan America, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., [online] Read the entire page →
From page 81... ... Literature Review A-49 MTC Evaluation of the Plan Bay Area Public Outreach and Participation Program, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, December 2013, Available at: http://www.planbayarea.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Evaluation_Report_PBA_Outreach.pdf. Evaluates the program based on diversity (target audience demographics similar to region's) Read the entire page →
From page 82... ... A-50 Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes housing disparities to identify opportunities for improving access to opportunity. The FHEA includes an overview of the historical and cultural context; analysis of racial segregation, poverty, and access to opportunity; and recommendations for advancing fair housing and equity. Read the entire page →
From page 83... ... Literature Review A-51 Endnotes 1. Read the entire page →

From page 33...

... A-1 A P P E N D I X A Literature Review Completed August 1, 2017 Introduction and Executive Summary About This Project The goal of this research project was to develop a reference guide that identifies and describes how metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) can effectively analyze and address equity and environmental justice in long-range planning and programming processes, meeting both the legal requirements of Title VI and the needs of underserved or underrepresented communities successfully and efficiently within an MPO's responsibilities and capacity.